DFT calculations and POM analyses of cytotoxicity of some flavonoids from aerial parts of Cupressus sempervirens: Docking and identification of pharmacophore sites.

Two known polyphenols named apigenin 7-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside (S1) and querctine-3-O-glucoside (S2), along with another two new compounds apigenin 4'-geranyl-8-glucopyranosyl-7-O-α-glucopyranoside (S3) and apigenin 4'-pernyl-8-glucopyranosyl -7-O-α-glucopyranoside (S4), were isolated from the leaves of Cupressus sempervirens. Structure elucidation of the isolated polyphenols was established on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis like 1D and 2D NMR analyses including 1H NMR, 13C NMR, COSY, DEPT, HMQC, UV, and Electron Spray Ionization Mass Spectroscopy (ESI-MS). Density Functional Theory (DFT) of computational, Petra/Osiris/Molinspiration (POM), and docking analyses methods were applied in the structural validation of new isolated compounds. The isolated compounds S1-S4 showed significant cytotoxicity against human hepatocellular liver carcinoma HepG2 cells, MCF-7, HC116 and A549.

Isolation of phytoconstituents and evaluation of anticancer and Antioxidant potential of Launaea mucronata (Forssk.) Muschl. subsp.

Traditional Medicine is widely used in clinical research due to its low toxicity, low number of side effects, and low cost. Many components of common fruits and vegetables play well-documented roles as chemo preventive or chemotherapeutic agents that suppress tumor genesis. The present study was aimed to identify the DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free-radical scavenging constituents from methanol extract of Launaea mucronata using bioassay-guided fractionation. The methanolic extract revealed a strong antioxidant activity, the IC50 values (the concentration with scavenging activity of 50%) was 25.94 mg/ml. The fractionation of the active methanol extract by silica gel column chromatography revealed compounds with strong antioxidant activity. The isolated bioactive compound was determined as, apigenin, quercetin, rutin, isorhamnetin-3-O-ß-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-ß-glucoside, apigenin-7-O- ß-diglucoside, kaempferol-3-o-rutinoside), by comparing spectral data (UV, IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and MS) with literature reports. The results obtained confirmed that methanol extract of Launaea mucronata or its derived phytocompounds can be used potentially as a bioactive source of natural antioxidants by contributing beneficial health effects. Launaea mucronata was in vitro investigated for cytotoxic activity against HCT116, HepG2, Hella and MCF-7 cell lines, doxorubicin was used as the reference drug. The results show IC50 19, 19.60, 12.60 and 12.70 µg/ml respectively.

Determination of Volatile Compounds of Mentha piperita and Lavandula multifida and Investigation of Their Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and Antidiabetic Properties.

Mentha piperita and Lavandula multifida are widely used in Moroccan traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes and infectious diseases. The aims of this work were the determination of the chemical composition of Mentha piperita (MPEO) and Lavandula multifida (LMEO) essential oils and the evaluation of their antibacterial, antioxidant, and antidiabetic activities. The chemical composition was determined by GC-MS analysis. The antibacterial effects were evaluated against several bacterial strains using disc diffusion, MIC, and MBC methods. The antioxidant activity was evaluated in vitro using DPPH, H2O2, and xanthine oxidase, and the antidiabetic activity was estimated by the inhibitory effects of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and lipase activities. GC-MS results showed that the main compounds of MPEO were menthone (29.24%), levomenthol (38.73%), and eucalyptol (6.75%). However, eucalyptol (28.11%), 2-bornanone (11.57%), endo-borneol (7.82%), and linalyl acetate (5.22%) are the major compounds of LMEO. The results exhibited important inhibitory effects against some bacterial strains with MIC = MBC = 0.39 mg/mL for MPEO against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC. However, LMEO exhibited remarkable antioxidant and antidiabetic activities compared to MPEO. Indeed, LMEO inhibited DPPH, H2O2, and xanthine oxidase with concentrations of 15.23, 21.52, and 8.89 µg/mL, respectively. Moreover, LMEO exhibited α-amylase and α-glucosidase at IC50 = 85.34 and IC50 = 59.36 µg/mL, respectively. The findings showed that both MPEO and LMEO exhibit promising biological properties. However, the application of these species or their main bioactive compounds requires further investigation.

Effect of habitat variations on the chemical composition, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of Achillea fragrantissima (Forssk) Sch. Bip.

Achilea fragmentisma plant is widely distributed along northern regions of Saudi Arabia with various traditional medical uses. The plant was collected from Tabuk and Arar regions to study the effect of the variation in habitat on the chemical compositions, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the plant. The results showed significant differences between the two studied region regarding the parameters of the weather in years from 2010-2016.The antioxidant and antimicrobial of the plant showed significant variation in two habitats. Plant collected from Arar showed high antioxidant activity with IC50 (0.21 ± 0.01 g/L) by DPPH radical scavenging methods, and good antibacterial activity with gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococccus aureus clinical isolate), antibacterial activity ranging between high to no activity (between 14.5 ± 0.5-6.0 ± 0.0 mm zone of inhibition), On the other side the tested plant extracts showed no effect on, all gram-negative bacteria. GC/MS data showed marked variation in chemical compositions of both phenolic and alkaloid compounds in plants collected from both regions. Phenolic compounds were accumulated with higher amounts(Ferulic acid, Eugenol and Salicylic acid ester) in Arar region, while the alkaloid fractions (Ethyl isoallocholate, Pterin 6-carboxylic-acid and kadain) showed higher concentrations in plants collected from Tabuk region. The results reflect the variation in of weather parameter, affect on chemical compositions and biological activities of the plant in two studied regions.

UPLC/ESI-MS Phytochemical Screening of Deverra tortuosa Haematological and Histopathological Studies and Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes in Rat.

Herbal plants represent a new source of hypoglycemic antidiabetic drugs; haematological and histopathological studies of methanol extract of Deverra tortuosa in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were investigated in vivo. A single intraperitoneal injection of 160 mg/kg bodyweights of streptozotocin was used to cause diabetes. Blood glucose levels were tested with an AccuCheck Advantage II glucometer and blood glucose test strips. After diabetes was confirmed, animals were orally treated with the extract, metformin, and insulin according to the experimental design. After extract therapy, histological alterations in the pancreas of diabetic rats were investigated. When compared to a control group, daily oral administration of D. tortuosa extract (300 mg/kg body weight) plus metformin (100 mg/kg) had a positive effect on blood glucose levels as well as showed an increased number of white blood cells (WBCs) and red blood cells (RBCs). The treatment with the extract for two weeks showed a positive impact on pancreatic histopathological changes in the groups with the diabetic rats. Phenolic fraction of the methanol extract was screened by the liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) method, which unveiled the existence of flavonoid compounds and phenolics as kaempferol, rutin, isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside, caffeic acid, and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid 4-O-glucoside. The results confirmed the use of the plant as an antidiabetic agent; the research recommended further studies on the plant to use the plant as an antidiabetic drug, where the plant extract also showed improvement in blood parameters.

Medicinal Applications of Cannabinoids Extracted from Cannabis sativa (L.): A New Route in the Fight Against COVID-19?

Cannabis sativa is a well-known plant that has been recognized for its benefits since ancient times by several medicinal systems, including those of China, India, Greece, and Egypt. Although C. sativa is one of the most investigated medicinal plants in the world, it faces some of the greatest controversies surrounding its legalization and use as a medication. C. sativa contains several hundred phytoconstituents, including the infamous "cannabinoids". It is necessary to properly understand the medicinal importance of these phytochemicals and spread awareness among the countries where cannabis is still facing legal obstacles. The current review focuses on the most recent literature pertaining to various applications of cannabinoids, with a special focus on the medicinal aspect of these phytochemicals. Peer-reviewed articles focusing on the importance of cannabis and cannabinoids are the target of this review. Articles were selected based on the relevance to the general scope of the work, i.e., application of cannabinoids. Cannabinoids can truly be regarded as wonder drugs, considering their immense diversity of usage. Unfortunately, however, many of the mares have never been researched biologically or pharmacologically due to their low yield in the plant. However, the approval of some cannabinoids by the FDA (along with other recognized national medical health systems) has opened the horizon for the use of these natural drugs in medicines such as Epidiolex® (cannabidiol, used for the treatment of severe forms of epilepsy) and Sativex®(Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol, used for the treatment of spasticity caused by multiple sclerosis). Many pharmacological properties of C. sativa are attributed to cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive component, along with Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), a psychoactive component. This review addresses the most important applications or current utilization of cannabinoids in a variety of treatments such as chronic pain, cancer, emesis, anorexia, irritable bowel syndrome, communicable diseases, glaucoma, and central nervous system disorders. The biosynthetic pathway of cannabinoids is also discussed. In short, cannabis has a myriad of bioactive compounds that have the potential to increase the list of approved cannabinoids suitable for therapy.